Mormonism and the Gospel

having sexual relations with Mary, as Brigham Young

cal Christianity. From its inception the Christian faith,

asserted,7 contrary to the clear teachings of the Bible (see

like Judaism, has been rigidly monotheistic. One cannot

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:34–35)? Does God the

be a true Christian and believe that a pantheon of gods

Father really have a body of flesh and bones, just as we

and goddesses exists–nor that we can become gods our-

have (see Jesus’ comments in John 4:24 and Luke 24:39)?

selves! The Bible is absolutely clear on this. In the shema,

Was Jesus a polygamist married to Mary, Martha, and

the foundation stone of the Jewish faith, God tells His

“the other Mary”?9 The biblical answer to each of these

people, “Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God, the LORD is

questions is an unequivocal “No!”

one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). God repeats this in numerous

Much more could be said about false and blasphemous

Scriptures, with great emphasis: “‘You are my witnesses,’

Mormon doctrines, but these must suffice. Christians

declares the LORD, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen,

are warned repeatedly to reject all counterfeit gospels,

that you may know and believe me and understand that

even if they are brought by “an angel from heaven”

I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be

(Galatians 1:8–9).10 Let us love and respect all men and

any after me’” (Isaiah 43:10—emphasis added; see also

women, and care enough about them to share the one true

Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5,22; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 1 Timothy 2:5).

and never-changing gospel of Jesus Christ with them!

THE JESUS OF MORMONISM

1

Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul warns us “that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits

Joseph Smith’s Testimony, 5-6; 2Documentary History of the Church (DHOTC), 6:308; 3DHOTC, 6:305; 4Journal of Discourses (JOD), 1:50; 5JOD, 6:3-4; 6 JOD, 13.282, et al; 7JOD, 1:50-51; 8Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130; 9JOD, 4:259; 10Joseph Smith claimed the angel Moroni told him where to look for golden plates from which came the Book of Mormon.

and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Elsewhere he warns of false prophets who will come and preach “a different gospel” and “another Jesus than the one we proclaimed” (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Is Jesus actually the “spirit brother of Lucifer”?6 Was Jesus really conceived by Adam coming down and

8

Good News Tracts 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, IL 60187

©2012 Good News Tracts. Printed in U.S.A. Cover image: © Shutterstock.. Written by: Dr. Joseph P. Gudel. Bible references: ESV.

Mormon polytheism completely separates it from bibli-

MORMONISM AND THE

GOSPEL

MORMONISM OR THE BIBLE: WHICH IS TRUE?

wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their

God Himself was once as we are now and is an

creeds were an abomination in His sight. He again forbade me to

exalted man.3 —Joseph Smith

join with any of them” 1 (emphasis added).

“Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). This verse

When our father Adam came into the Garden of

is invariably cited whenever a Christian says anything

Thus the Mormon Church, from its very beginning, has de-

Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and

negative about Mormon teachings. But Jesus also warned

clared that all of Christianity is false and that the true Gospel

brought Eve, one of his celestial wives with him.

His followers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you

was lost and only restored 1800 years later by its founder and

. . . HE is our FATHER and our GOD and the only

in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You

prophet, Joseph Smith. This is a belief Mormons normally do

God with whom WE have to do.4

will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15–16).

not like to discuss with non-Mormons.

—Brigham Young

It is obvious that Jesus desired that we do not blindly ac-

So in addressing Mormon beliefs we are not attacking indi-

Perhaps the most blatant teaching of Mormon polytheism

cept new teachings and beliefs. The Apostle Paul echoed

viduals but defending historic biblical Christianity, earnestly

(belief in many gods) is found in a speech Joseph Smith

this when he said “the spiritual person judges all things”

contending “for the faith that was once for all delivered to the

gave in 1844 in Carthage, Illinois:

(1 Corinthians 2:15). So, in light of this, how does the Mor-

saints” (Jude 3).

God himself was once as we are now, and is an

mon faith compare with what God has told us in the Bible?

THE GODS OF MORMONISM THE BELIEFS OF MORMONISM

exalted Man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret…I am going to tell you

A critical Mormon teaching that most people are unaware of is

how God came to become God. We have imagined

First of all, concerning judgment, how many people are

their ardent polytheism, that is, they believe that many gods

and supposed that God was God from all eternity,

aware of what Joseph Smith claimed that God told him about

exist and that Mormons can become gods and rule over their

I will refute that idea…God himself, the Father of

Christianity and Christians? In Joseph Smith’s Testimony he

own worlds after this life is over (the doctrine of “exaltation”).

us all, dwelt on an earth the same as Jesus Christ

asserted that both God the Father and Jesus appeared to him

himself did….Here, then, is eternal life–to know Consider these quotes from Joseph Smith and Brigham Young:

the only wise and true God; and you have got to

“I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light,

In the beginning the head of the Gods called a council of

learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings

which of all the sects was right and which I should join. I

the Gods and they came together and conducted a plan

and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done

was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all

to create the world and populate it. —Joseph Smith

before you.5

and denounced all Christian denominations as detestable!

2

having sexual relations with Mary, as Brigham Young asserted,7 contrary to the clear teachings of the Bible (see Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18 and Luke 1:34–35)? Does God the Father really have a body of flesh and bones, just as we have (see Jesus’ comments in John 4:24 and Luke 24:39)?8 Was Jesus a polygamist married to Mary, Martha, and “the other Mary”?9 The biblical answer to each of these questions is an unequivocal “No!” Much more could be said about false and blasphemous Mormon doctrines, but these must suffice. Christians are warned repeatedly to reject all counterfeit gospels, even if they are brought by “an angel from heaven” (Galatians 1:8–9).10 Let us love and respect all men and women, and care enough about them to share the one true and never-changing gospel of Jesus Christ with them!

Joseph Smith’s Testimony, 5-6; 2Documentary History of the Church (DHOTC), 6:308; 3DHOTC, 6:305; 4Journal of Discourses (JOD), 1:50; 5JOD, 6:3-4; 6 JOD, 13.282, et al; 7JOD, 1:50-51; 8Doctrine and Covenants, Section 130; 9JOD, 4:259; 10Joseph Smith claimed the angel Moroni told him where to look for golden plates from which came the Book of Mormon.

1

Mormonism and the Gospel

Good News Tracts

This tract evaluates some of the foundational differences between Christianity and Mormonism.

Bible references: ESV. Package contains 25 tracts.

TIMELY ISSUES